Okay, now I get it. Well, no one has really questioned the rule, that the first born will inherit the thrown. And Naruhito was older than Akishino. Likewise, the first born's firstborn is also the heir, even if there are cousins born before him. Therefor, Crown prince Frederik's son will once become the king of Denmark, even though Frederik's younger brother Joachim had children before him. No one thought Mako and Kako had more right to the thrown than Aiko, because Aiko was the crown prince's daughter, and Mako and Kako weren't.

Uh, that's not what I was saying. I was mentioning the fact that some people are saying that Kiko and her husband used IVF, and how unfair it is that the (IH) manufactored this baby boy, taking Aiko's birth right away from her.

The point I was making is its pretty widly know that Aiko herself was an IVF baby, which makes her in someways just as manufactured as her little cousin.

The point I was making is that you cannot say its fair for the Crown Prince and Princess to use IVF, but its wrong for the second son. So if your going to use the "natural argument." than it should be poor Princess Mako. Because without IVF technology, than she would be the eldest potentional heir with reforms. Don't get me wrong, As a Catholic, I don' agree with IVF at all. I think its opened a pandora' box so to speak, although of course I don't blame the IVF kids, and I think Princess Aiko is adorable. But I'm saying that well if one brother used IVF than the other brother should be able to use it too. Fair's/fair and unfortuantely there is a throne at stake.

As for the first born rule, I see how its fair, but in reality it really isn't fair. Just because someone's born first doesn't mean He/she will make the better King or Queen. In the end its "luck, blood, tradition that gives you the crown, there's nothing fair about it.

But I wasn't challenging the first born, I was challenging the whole the new prince was born from INVITRO, "its not fair."

Japanese princess celebrates 40th birthday with new-born prince
Japanese Princess Kiko has celebrated her 40th birthday at a Tokyo hospital together with her new-born baby boy, who has preserved the royal family's male succession for another generation....Prince Akishino, who is Emperor Akihito's second son, is scheduled to visit the hospital to celebrate his wife's birthday, news reports said.
Kiko and the baby boy are in good condition and will be discharged from the hospital within a week, Imperial Household Agency officials said....http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060911...y_060911043804

From Shinmai news
A pair of baby shoes made out of pure gold was exhibited in Nagano Prefecture to celebrate the birth of the imperial baby.

Baby prince to be named in traditional ceremony Tuesday
Prince Akishino, Emperor Akihito's second son, will name his first son at a traditional naming ceremony on Tuesday, the seventh day since Princess Kiko gave birth to the imperial family's first heir in nearly 41 years.

At the naming ceremony, scheduled to begin at around 3:30 p.m. at Tokyo's Aiiku Hospital, the new prince's name written by Prince Akishino and his symbol written by Princess Kiko on Japanese paper will be put inside a wooden box, which will then be placed by the baby's pillow. The symbol will be used to mark the baby's belongings....http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060911/kyodo/d8k2ibn00.html

Japan's Kiko turns 40 in hospital with new-born prince
...Later Crown Prince Naruhito and Masako had their first glimpse of their new nephew, whose birth closed debate on female succession that would have put their own daughter, four-year-old Princess Aiko, in line to the throne.
Aiko, wearing a blue dress, hid shyly behind her father's back as she and her parents were met at the hospital entrance by the glare of cameras.....http://uk.news.yahoo.com/11092006/32...rn-prince.html

The Crown Princely couple looks quite happy; I do think Masako's smile is genuine.Little Aiko looks like she wants to run away though!

__________________Queen Elizabeth: "I cannot lead you into battle, I do not give you laws or administer justice but I can do something else, I can give you my heart and my devotion to these old islands and to all the peoples of our brotherhood of nations." God, Save The Queen!

The more I think about it, the more I think that this little guy must be a relief to the Crown Princess. I read an article where it said many Japanese are still willing for an Empress, (the majority still inspite of the new Prince's birth.) However, they want also to take their time debating this, and seriously considering this change. So maybe the change will be for the boy prince's kids? Who knows.

But for Masako I would think the whole thing is a relief. If a change happens then it will be because the Japanese people really want the change, not because they were forced into/had no choice. So if her daughter becomes Empress it will be because the people want her as Empress even over a boy.

Either way, Masako and her husband won't go down in history as the reason the 1500 year male line failed, and I think it is a very good thing.

In the end, none of this is the little Prince's fault, and it's sad that some newspapers are referring to his birth as a "step backward for Japan."

So I'm sure this little boy Prince is a relief to Masako (and its a little nephew too, maybe Aiko and the little boy will become close?) I read an interview where the Crown Prince said he'd be thrilled to be suceeded by a nephew. Maybe the Crown Prince and Princess don't want Aiko to have to deal with the Empress pressure.

The visit by the Crown Princely couple to see their new nephew must be a bit bittersweet for Masako and Naruhito. Although I'm sure that their smiles are genuine and that they really are happy for Kiko and Akishino, some small part of them must be thinking about the level of media attention and joy being felt in Japan at this time over the arrival of a little baby boy should be meant for them and a little boy that was born to them.

Alexandria, my thoughts exactly. I have watched the rising interest and adulation for Kiko. While she seems to be a very nice person, I hope the adulation gives way to an appreciation for all members of the IH and what they have to contribute to Japan.

Alexandria, my thoughts exactly. I have watched the rising interest and adulation for Kiko. While she seems to be a very nice person, I hope the adulation gives way to an appreciation for all members of the IH and what they have to contribute to Japan.

I hope so too, but Princess Kiko I think has really been a rock in the Japanese royal family it seems. So maybe its nice for her that she gets a little attention now. Also, I have read that there are some rising problems on how this little boy will be treated. Apparently Princess kiko and her husband get a lot less money from the state, and now they have the Possible future emperor on their hands. So it means they may need more money or something will have to be done because it will be a huge burden on their hands.

I read that many Japanese still want it so a female can be emperess but also want time for debate. The problem with this is that it means Aiko and this little boy's lives will be on permanent hold. What needs to be decided is if they want debate time, than they should say that any futher debate effects the future emperor (whether it be Aiko's brother or cousin) and his kids.

That's great the princess and the baby is doing fine and that they are both safe and sound. I was hoping for a girl so they allow a female emperor to be head of state it is just not meant to be. The line of succession will not change the deal has been sealed it will remain only male descents of the emperor.

...The Imperial Household Agency said that his name meant "virtuous, calm and everlasting", the Associated Press news agency reported.
The character in his name pronounced hito has traditionally been included in the name of royal males.
Prince Hisahito was named in a private ceremony at the Tokyo hospital where Princess Kiko gavee birth. According to tradition, his father chose the name while his mother selected a crest used to mark his belongings....http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/5337374.stm

Japan's newborn prince named Hisahito: palace
...Hisa translates as "serene" in Japanese. Hito, which means "virtuous", is traditionally put at the end of names of boys born to the world's oldest monarchy....During the ceremony Akishino wrote the name on Japanese hand-made paper and Kiko separately wrote a royal symbol for the baby.
The pieces of paper were put inside a box made of paulownia wood and were placed by the baby's pillow to complete the naming ceremony....http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060912...e_060912071256

Japan's Prince Akishino, left, is greeted by Masao Nakabayashi, president of Aiiku Hospital, in Tokyo upon his arrival Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 12, 2006 to preside over a traditional naming ceremony for his first son who was born on Sept. 6. The son of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko has been named Prince Hisahito, the Imperial Household Agency said on Tuesday.
#1-2:from Polfoto
#3-4: Profimedia

LEAD: Imperial baby named Prince Hisahito, with hope of long life
...The parents have chosen the name in the hope that the prince will live long at ease, while the umbrella pine, the coniferous evergreen tree native to Japan, has been selected for his symbol in the hope that he will grow straight and tall, the agency said....Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko discussed which name and symbol to select for their baby and decided on the symbol, while the prince selected the name from a list compiled by the agency after consulting with the emperor and Empress Michiko, according to the agency....The agency said it had begun considering which names to choose from for the baby since July, excluding the names of previous emperors and recent members of the imperial family. After the baby was born last Wednesday, it had chosen three names, taking the opinions of experts in Japanese and Chinese literature into account, it said...."The name reflects Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko's feelings well. I would like the new prince to live freely and easily as his name suggests," Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said after the naming ceremony Tuesday...Umbrella pines have grown on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo and on the grounds of the Akasaka Estate, where Prince Akishino's family live. http://asia.news.yahoo.com/060912/kyodo/d8k37ed01.html

From Polfoto#1: Japanese woman looks at a congratulatory announcement of the name of the newly-born prince displayed at at a department store in Tokyo Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006. #2: Japanese youngsters take a photo of a congratulatory announcement of the name of the newly-born prince displayed at a department store in Tokyo Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006.